Brew For You

Black Lightning Porter

2009-07-07T21:45:00.005-05:00

Lightning Brewing Company, Poway, San Diego, CA

ABV: 8.5% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: ?? (International Bitterness Unit)

HOLY CRAP, LOOK OUT!!! Poured into a perfect pint glass this imperial porter leaked silky smooth out of a 22oz bomber. I was so obsessed with the viscosity and deep color that I nearly blasted a thick chocolate brown head over the top of the glass. This jet black brew is impenetrable by light. The head has some serious staying power. While I was waiting for it to warm up a but the thick foam had subsided into something resembling the mysterious mountain Richard Dreyfuss carves out of his mashed potatoes in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Black Lightning Porter is a fall seasonal beer from Lightning Brewery here in Southern California. They consider this to be one of their brewery defining beers (on the opposite end of the spectrum is their Elemental Pilsner). This brewery is rather unique (here in SoCal, at least) as the head brewer and co-owner focusses on the power of malt. With a mantra to make better beer through science, Jim Crute (ex-biochemical engineer) has breathed life back into my waining interest in beers attenuated with bottom fermenting yeast (lagers & pilsners). There IS such a thing as craft-lager! I highly suggest you check out Lightning's website and read for yourself (Lightning Brewery)! Back to the, Porter - shame on me for drinking it in July... but the AC is on and freezin' my dangly-bits off... so I deemed this tasting appropriate (plus I just really wanted to try it).

The smell is of warm and inviting malt and alcohol. Huge wafts of caramel are pouring out the glass. Clearly, many of the 9 varieties of of malted barley used in this bill are of the roasted, caramel, chocolate, and dark crystal to obtain a seemingly Starbuck clone.

This beer packs a punch! I suppose as any hugely crafted imperial porter should. This cool brown obsidian flows smoothly into the mouth wacking the tongue and flooding it with gobs of roasted and caramel malt taste. The high alcohol carries the smokey wood flavors into the nose. The mouthfeel is smooth and oily. It is amazingly creamy. As it slides down your throat your mouth is left with a large coating of beautiful bitter hops. The bitterness reminds me of Stone's 13th Anniversary Ale - Imperial Red. Perhaps, chinook and centennial hops are used in the boil as bittering agents.

The finish is warm and sticky, presumably left over resin from the massive malt profile. The hop flavor subsides smoothly and doesn't linger, leaving only sweet coffee notes and of course the desire to take another taste of this massively complex and passionately crafted beer.

Cheers, Dr. Beer!

DRU: 89/100 (Dan's Rating Units)

Sculpin IPA

2009-06-29T23:13:00.002-05:00

Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA

ABV: 7.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: ?? (International Bitterness Unit)

Well guys (not that there are any.. "guys" but I gotta start somewhere), I decided to try and start writing on this thing again. I've since moved back from Dallas, TX to San Diego... thank God! I loved Dallas while I was there, the bars were fertile and provided me with libation a plenty. For that I am greatful! Now, it is back to the wonderful world of whiney actress-wannabe waitresses trying to 'make it' and 71 degree and sunny weather round the clock. I love the out doors - thank you surfing, mountain biking, motorcycle riding, hiking, running, and general activity for making my state of mind a little bit more sound. I would also like to thank Southern California for the liberal use of hops in their beer. Good Lord, I had been sitting on a gold mine of craft beer that I didn't even know about.

Let me start. This week (or today) I have an AMAZING IPA. Sculpin is a limited release from Ballast Point brewing company right here in San Diego.

See wikipedia --> A Sculpin is a fish that belongs to the Order Scorpaeniformes, Suborder Cottoidei and Superfamily Cottoidea that contains 11 families, 149 genera, and 756 species according to though these totals will likely change as more molecular work is done. The vast majority of these species live in salt water; only the Abyssocottids, Comephorids, and a few species of Cottids living in fresh water. These bottom feeders are generally not considered good to eat, and have sharp spines rather than scales. Sculpin can live for several hours out of water if kept moist. They use their large pectoral fins to stabilize themselves on the floor of flowing creeks and rivers.

Let me get to business. Sculpin pours a golden slightly copper color. It is crisp and clean looking framed with a two fingered creamy colored head. It is a gorgeous beer that looks refreshing... thankfully it is here during the late spring/early summer. As it is consumed the head leaves thick heavy lace on the walls of the glass. Wonderful!

The aroma is VERY hoppy! I would put it in between a typical IPA and an Imperial IPA. More noticeably are the strength and dominance of the other odors - sweet citrus and cloves. It smells fantastic and is seemingly very unique and unusual. I can certainly see why BP keeps this as a limited release... it is really deserving of special treatment.

The flavor is amazing! Probably one fo the best IPA's I have ever had. It is sweet, citrusy, with a big hop bang. Each of these seem to compliment each other to give a truly unique experience. It is definitely shocking as this beer seems to necessitate a beer style all on it's own.

The finish is wet yet refreshing. The mouth feel is rich and full and leaves a cool clean palate yearning for more. Definitely an awesome beer! AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!

Let me leave you with a quick soliloquy about why I hate Ballast Point! I've bought a majority of my homebrew equipment from Ballast Point's HomebrewMart. The guys who run the specialty location and Homebrewmart on Linda Vista Road are a bunch of a-holes. The minute you start asking detailed question in hopes to get some good advice about brewing from the pros they view you as a threat/potential competitor that is suddenly not cool enough to deserve their beer. Upon speaking to several co-workers and friends who have had similar run-in with the aforementioned staff of Ballast Point I decided that it was time to move along. A week ago I bought three 22 oz bombers of Sculpin to commemorate my final business transaction with this brewery. With this review I declare my boycotting of this brewery. It truly is a shame because they make delicious beer (Sculpin IPA, Dorado IIPA, Seamonster Stout), but they do not follow or foster the ideals of the recent craft brewing boom... those being "passion, collaboration, sharing, fun, and the persuit of better beer."

Thanks for reading, folks!

DRU: 95/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Hop Rod Rye

2009-02-01T19:29:00.002-06:00

Bear Republic Brewery, Healdsburg, CA

ABV: 8.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: ?? (International Bitterness Unit)

I usually enjoy the commentary written on the bottles of these specialty ales and so I will continue to share them with you. This is the latest from Bear Republic's Hop Rod Rye specialty ale.

"Hop Rod Rye is a high performance, turbo charged, alcohol burnin' monster ale with dual overhead hop injection, made with 18% rye."

I poured my first glass into my Unibroue tulip glass. It is a gorgeous amber mahogany color. The head is tan and thick. This glass was able to retain the head for quite some time. As it subsided while I was letting it warm the head sat stout like Richard Dreyfus had carved it out of mashed potatoes in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The beer has an unbelievably dense and flavorful appearance. I'm super excited to drink it because I have never had a beer partly comprised with rye malt.

This tulip glass concentrates the nose. I am glad I chose this glass because burying your nose over the fading head is bliss. The hops aroma is explosive! The bitter aroma is a little humbling and give sooth to the saying on the bottle. There is a balancing floral aroma and notes of warming alcohol which are not a surprise with a high alcohol content ale. The rye counterparts are unmistakeably accountable for pine and peppercorn punch. Lets take a sip of this bad boy!

"Wooooooooaaaah!" was an audible utterance from my jaw dropped chomper despite my undeniable solo performance of drinking beer and watching superbowl Ex-El-eye-eye-eye. The mouthfeel is cleansing and dense. It coats the mouth cleanly and comfortably. I would typically expect a biting and stinging carbonation from a hoppy IPA. This part-rye ale brings a hop perception and powerful bitter flavor with delightfully smooth and creamy taste. The rye malt adds the sweet unique peppery flavor of glorious (who-du-thunk) rye bread. This is certainly a fun and complex beer to drink. The finish is of hops and malt. This beer moistens the mouth rather than leaving it dry and chapped. Fortunately it is as if you are left watering and craving more. Perhaps this is the case.

This bear is truly unique. It is delicious, creamy, and fun for those hop heads looking for some other way to torture their taste buds. Bear Republic does it again in my book and I am beginning to believe that they are truly some form of Samurai paying homage to the hop. Enjoy and let me know what you folks think! P.S. I need to give a shout out to Mr. G's Beverage company for having a rad beer selection!

DRU: 96 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Flying Dog, Snake Dog IPA

2009-01-24T19:12:00.002-06:00

Flying Dog Brewery, Denver, CO

ABV: 7.1% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 60 (International Bitterness Unit)

"Tired of those annoying 3AM hang-ups from your crazy, stalking EX? Turns out the same qualities that make your EX so damn annoying make our Snake Dog IPA so attractive. Chock full of bitterness bite and attitude, it slaps you in the face with flavor. Just like your psycho EX did at the bar last weekend."

You have to appreciate a fun brewery with a good sense of humor, hilarious art work, and an uncanny ability to brew delicious beer!

Flying Dog Snake Dog IPA sports your typical fun Flying Dog art work which consists of a Picasso style dog with a long snakey neck. It pours a beautiful rich amber with reddish a reddish hue. The head is a fluffy white that has a decent amount of retention for an IPA. It subsides slowly leaving nice lacey ruminants and a nice frothy slick on the surface of the beer.

The aroma is a wonderful thing! Thick bitter hops emanates from the glass. It smells rich and flowery and with an IBU of 60 it tickles the nose and promotes mouth watering anticipation.

The story on the bottle, written above, says it all. This beer smacks you in the face with cool crisp betterness. Some of the sweet flower aromas manifested in the form of dry fruits. The finish is long and rich with hoppy bitterness coating your mouth.

This is an amazing IPA, and to be expected from Flying Dog. Hop Heads look out... this is a delicious beer that can be enjoyed at any time.

DRU: 89 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Orval Trappist Ale

2009-01-16T19:18:00.004-06:00

Orval Brewery, Guame, Belgium

ABV: 6.9% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

So it's Friday... It's been a long week of overhaul inspection standards, overhaul repair standards, dealing with emissions issues, and developing repairs. In other words... it's a perfect night to crack open a beer, and not just any beer. Granted, writing these opinionated reviews take some presence of mind, I'm happy to do them... after I am occasionally drinking some of the best beer in the world. This week I am going for an Orval Trappist ale made at the Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Orval monastery. Thank you Central Market in Dallas for once again providing me with a beer selection that just won't quit. Lest I begin...

Orval pours a light reddish amber that is cloudy and seemingly mysterious. There is a pronounced, creamy, off-white one-finger head that settles quickly so a nice thick sheet of icing on the surface. I would have to say that it is unique and unexpected coming from the unusually shaped Orval bottle.

The aroma wreaks of Belgian abbey ale. The malty spiced cloves balance a typically bready nose. Finally, amongst the sweet spice is a hint of bitter hops. I can't wait to finally get into a nice Belgian with a detectable bitter perception.

This is a beer with a medium bodied mouthfeel. The carbonation is nice and slightly nips at the tongue. Overall it is smooth and calming. There is an instant shot of winter spices complimented by nutty yeast remnant from the bottle fermentation sediment. The finish is where the bitter hops come out and land the back of your tongue. After spending so much time focusing on the dubbles and tripples of the Trappist beer population and glad to finally find one that has a hoppy perception. It is really quite fantastic.

Well, overall, a delicious beer that should be enjoyed one or two at a time. I would not recommend this beer as a third or fourth sitting at the bar. If I could I might classify this beer as right in the middle between the double and the tripple. It has the malty richness of a dubble and the light spicy citrus flavors of the tripple style. Truly interesting, and truly enjoyable.

DRU: 94/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Brugse Zot

2009-01-11T15:03:00.003-06:00

Brouwerij De Halve Maan, Bruges, Belgium

ABV: 6.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

I got rogue text from my Dad while he was in Bruges with Mom on a business trip said, "We tried this beer called Zot, even Mom liked it!" This is something to be said since my Mom swore off beer back in college after a run-in with Colt 45. Regardless, I looked for the beer and I couldn't find it. I gave up and thought that maybe it didn't make it to the US on a large enough scale to find it in stores in Dallas. Picking up a bottle of Jameson at Siegles got me browsing their beer selection, BAM - there it was! A nice little four pack plastered with cartoon jesters.

I'll get down to it. Zot is a Belgian Pale Ale. It pours a golden to dark-golden color. It's hue is darker than that of Duvel. *Warning* This beer produces an almost stark white head that is almost uncontrollable. You have to know what's coming before the first drop hits the bottom of the glass. The head is foamy consisting of strangely large bubbles and the retention is surprisingly good. In a few minutes it settles to a thin top layer. As I drink the beer there is very little lacing on the glass. Unibroue 0.3L tulip glass.

The aroma is familiar to the of a lighter Belgian ale. Floral and clove odors erupt from the glass with notes of grainy yeast compliment. It perception is light and cool and I am pretty excited to down this Belgian import. At this point I would equate it to PranQster or Duvel.

The first taste is really nice. I can honestly say that is is smoother and much more manageable than the taste of Duvel. It has a much more easy a homey mouthfeel compared to PranQster. While both PranQster and Duvel are great... I just want to point out that the differences are noticeable. The carbonation is moderate and not overwhelming giving a very nicely balanced and frothy mouthfeel. The initial taste is sweet and mildly fruity with the malty breads coming out on the swallow. The finish is bone dry while a hint of yeast (presumably from the bottle conditioning sediments) remain and the floral aromas remain dancing in your throat.

I would characterize this beer as a nice Belgian Golden/Pale Ale that is comparable to Duvel - minus the Devil qualities. From the art work on the bottle to the malty sweet flavors and the hysterically uncontrollable head it's just a fun beer. It is easy to drink and with a small amount of bittering hops coming out in the end it might be a good starter for someone seriously interested in Belgian beer culture. Enjoy and drink up!

DRU: 92/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Full Moon Winter Ale

2008-12-17T20:06:00.003-06:00

Molson-Coors Brewing Company, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and/or Denver, CO

ABV: 5.6% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

Note: Aged sharp white cheddar made with Irish whiskey is awesome! Anyway... it's winter... it's cold... it's icy... I got stuck on Woodall Rogers for four fricken hours 'cause douche bag "Ice Force One" are a bunch of a-holes! Ha! Can you believe Texas called there sand/salt trucking fleet, "Ice Force One"... Holy Gay... not that there's anything wrong with that.

So, Full Moon is Blue Moon Franchise's seasonal winter ale. It's cheap, fun, and it tastes pretty decent. The pour is a filtered icy clear dark amber - booya, adjectives. The head is uneventful and it does not last. For some reason I don't get excited about it. Probably because it's from the makers of a beer (Blue Moon) that even your froshest of froshes feel cool ordering at the bar because it doesn't taste like beer and it comes with an orange slice... didn't you guys watch the Men of the Square Table commercials? When Burt Reynolds (a.k.a. Bandit) tells you, "Don't fruit your beer!" Damnit, you listen to him! Anyway...

The aroma is malty and sweet with only a small hint of hops. There's nothing here to really get excited about. I'm glad it doesn't boast nutmeg, cinnamon, and holiday joy... 'tis the season for all of that business.

The first sip is cold and refreshing. The carbonation is moderate and seems to be appropriate for this style of beer. I will say it is the exact opposite of a winter warmer. Yeah the alcohol content is low... but it seems to chill my bones, even while I am sitting here in my toasty warm apartment. It's strange but I am not opposed to it. The malts and "Dark Belgian Sugar" are evident in the taste. There are some bitter hops in the aftertaste which compliment the sweet aroma.

Nothing about this beer is overwhelming or defining. It is what it is... a mass produced filtered Belgian-wannabe for the masses. I like it... I'll drink it again... A delightful and forgettable brew.

DRU: 84/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

PranQster

2008-12-12T20:05:00.004-06:00

North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, CA

ABV: 7.6% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 20 (International Bitterness Unit)

Kick ass! It's Friday and I have plans to drink beer now and tomorrow! Just hanging out tonight after a long week of work. You know... resting up for a holiday beer tasting at The Gingerman. It ought to be a good time. But that is neither here nor there. What's on my plate right now is a Belgian style golden ale from North Coast Brewing company called, "Pranqster".

Yeah, I'll admit it... I've wanted to try this simply because of the sweet spelling and the awesome mural of a bunch of old fat guys sitting around drinking beer. If only I had aspirations! It does also claim to be a Belgian Style Golden Ale (alert: Duvel and Leffe Blonde fans)! Let's get down to it. P.S. Screw you Central Market for having such an awesome beer selection.

Pranqster pours a rich deep golden color. Conveniently the bottle conditioning yeast are nicely settled and stay nested at the bottom of the bottle. I'm liking that I don't have to worry about dumping it into my glass. The head is white, weak, and short lived. In my opinion I am okay with that. Heads are over rated!

The smell coming out of the glass just screams Belgian golden ale! It seems that some of the folks up at Fort Bragg may know what they are doing. This beer has a flowery nose that is very reminisce of those traditional ales such as Duvel and Leffe Blonde.

True to form the taste is bready and biting with a nutty undertone. You're left with almost the sensation of wanting to chew. Is that a pleasant sensation you wonder? It sure is especially when its followed by a crisp, clean, and refreshing finish that preps your pallet for a bite of food or another swig of this fine brew.

If I had to point out anything wrong with this beer it would be that it might be slightly over carbonated and that it tastes somewhat... American? It tastes delicious... but as I have become accustomed to the imported bottle conditioned Belgians, I feel like this one is too crisp, it's too refreshing, it's finish is too clean... it may almost be over engineered.

If you're looking for a great tasting Belgian Style beer that you can get at a reasonable price then this is definitely the beer for you. It's probably the best American stab at the style that I have had to date. I'm happy with the purchase and I won't hesitate to get it again. Enjoy, and happy drinking!

DRU: 92/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Racer 5 IPA

2008-12-07T18:41:00.005-06:00

Bear Republic Brewery, Healdsburg, CA

ABV: 7.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 69 (International Bitterness Unit)

I have more beer than I can fit in my fridge... more than any bachelor should have in his apartment at any given time. Despite this, I can't go grocery shopping at The Central Market without picking something out. Entering the store my mind is telling me, "You just need some bread and fruit for breakfast." Then I see that shrine that the Market has constructed to this beverage-of-the-Earth and I can't help but stop and browse. Every time my eye catches something that I've been wanting to try. This time is was Racer 5 India Pale Ale.

I have to give another shout out to my co-worker, "Thanks for the suggestion, Terry!" Terry is another fellow hop-head who is always looking for delicious pales and IPA to imbibe while relaxing on Saturday afternoons. He heard about this one on a radio show, believe it or not. So there I was in the Market and *SMACK* there was on the top shelf with the rest of the 750's calling my name. SOLD, Central Market!

I busted out the bottle open and as soon as I heard the *pssss* of the CO2 escaping from the cracked bottle cap I could smell the sweet bitterness of hops! This was an awesome surprise because after having Stone's Ruination IPA (which I believe to be the IPA to end all IPAs) I was a little skeptical of other competition.

This IPA pours a refreshing clear light golden color. I great white head forms on top of this golden goddess with surprisingly long head retention. All the while the hoppy aroma is just pouring out of the glass.

If you haven't been able to gather thus far there is no need to bury your nose in this beer to catch a whiff. The Cascade and Columbus hops just billow out of glass with an amazing floral aroma. The potent aroma is actually quite inviting and does not impart a dooming intimidation of the assumed face-contorting bitterness that may or may not follow the first sip.

This beer tastes delicious. Because the head retention is good you get to dive through the thick foam into the delicious smelling beverage. The beer is hoppy and there is a huge perception of bitterness. It is properly conditioned and refreshing. Swallowing this brew gives a rush of hoppy flavor. Just about everything you want in an IPA. Hey, I'll say it! This beer is a lot like Stone's Ruination. By that I mean it is DAMN GOOD! Is it AS good? That; I am not so sure. Racer 5 uses a hybrid Columbus hop for bittering and Cascade hops for aromatic affects. This IPA truly instills some finish of bitterness. The perception and aroma of hops nicely compliments it making it a truly delightful experience.

I'll leave you with some of the brew masters comments which I believe to perfectly describe this beer. "Racer 5 is an aggressive styled India Pale Ale. Handmade from a brewery whose motto is 'Bigger is Better'. This golden, well hopped, bottle conditioned ale demands your attention. Try the next generation of I.P.A. Racer 5... Go... Go.."

For the homebrewer... this would be an interesting style of beer to re-create as its ingredients should be readily available at your local home brew market.

DRU: 95/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Chimay - Grande Reserve (BLUE)

2008-12-05T19:15:00.005-06:00

The Chimay Brewery, Scourmont Abbey, Municipality of Chimay, Belgium

ABV: 9.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

Yeah... I'm wearing a t-shirt that says, "Beer is my Life"! It seems that ever since I moved to Dallas it seems quite apropos. I won this t-shirt in a raffle at a Belgian beer tasting at The Gingerman. Only irony can explain why I am wearing it now, drinking a Chimay Blue, and writing about it.

This is the first of many Trappist beers that I will be writing about. I'm not going to dive into a detailed history but I will say a little bit. There are only 7 trappist abbeys in the world, 6 of which are in Belgium. These beers are brewed by monastic monks in said abbey's for the purposes of raising funds for the abbey and various charities. Chimay is the most commercialized and widely distributed trappist beers. With that said... down to the beer!

Chimay Blue is a dark strong ale that pours a dark brown hue with a frothy tan head. It is cloudy due to the yeast still in the bottle for bottle conditioning. It is definitely rich looking and my mouth waters at the site of it.

The aroma is rich and malty with a strong aroma of bready yeast. There is a slightly sweet flowery smell that is really nice. Thus far Chimay Blue is a very inviting dark ale.

While nicely carbonated that first sip is chilly and stinging to the tongue. Malty sweet yeasty flavors rush the taste buds as it is swallowed. It has a great flavor with a bready lingering finish. This beer would be a great beginner's introduction to Belgian dark ales. What it lacks in hopped aroma and perception it makes up for with a malty richness which is surprisingly refreshing and pleasant. It is clear that I truly enjoy drinking this beer. I am amazed by how the aromas, spices, malts, and yeast undertones entirely mask the whopping 9% alcholol content. Three Cheers!

I will definitely continue to keep this beer available in my refrigerator and cellar. I am interested to see how age affects this beer. It is said that with age (years) the flavor improves as the yeast continues to ferment the malts and transform the composition.

My final suggestion would be to drink this beer out of a signature Chimay chalice or wide mouth glass. Take your time and "taste" the beer, DON'T drink it. I know it sounds snooty and lame but really try to taste the complexity. I don't believe that there is a question that the Scourmont abbey and it's monastic monk inhabitants truly did invent and perfect the trappist style beer.

DRU: 96/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

From the Hip!!!

2008-11-16T17:53:00.005-06:00

So it's Sunday... yes I've made myself a nice cheese plate and I am enjoying another Maudite... Bless you Unibroue!

The purpose of this post is to apologize for the horrendous writing. Drinking beer, watching football (Go Colts! - yeah that's right they beat the Texans today!), eating cheese, and trying to review beer in the middle of the afternoon probably isn't the best venue to facilitate the kind of concentration I need to weave a sentence that might peak the interest of a 5th grader.

I've re-read a couple of these posts and while some attempt be funny and others hint at sophistication... in the end they don't really mask the fact that I'm just an engineer who can hammer out a 40 page engineering design memo that out lines the details of stress analysis and creep lifing of a stage one turbine disk. These posts are merely evidence that I really can't write something that normal human beings would call "enjoyable to read".

I want to take this time to say thank you to The Gingerman for hosting an vastly fun Saturday afternoon Belgian beer tasting. I also want to say "HI!" to Crazy Ashley (the belgian beer girl), Carla, and Greg. Thanks for being fun neighbors during this event.

Finally I'll leave you with a little gem that a buddy of mine (Thanks, Raul!) sent to me from Sin City, Las Vegas, Nevada! Have a good week, see ya at the bar next time!

Maudite

2008-11-09T22:26:00.000-06:00

Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada

ABV: 8.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

So we have another strong ale from Unibroue. After I enjoyed Trios Pistoles so much, I had to pick up another Unibroue product and Maudite happened to be the choice. Maudite, meaning "The Damned" is a brew invented in 1992 and was hesitantly sold, because of the high alcohol content, in Quebec and American grocery stores. The artwork on the bottle is a typical Unibroue motif depicting a canoe of miscreants charging forward in the sky above a castle laden town. I imagine that they are The Damned.
Anyway, this brew pours are a dark amber red with a khaki tan head. The head is different than the Trois Pistoles because it leaves a much more significant amount of lace on the glass. The color is rich looking and has cloudy hues to it from the yeast still floating in the beer as a result of the bottle refermentation that Unibroue likes to use.
This strong ale smells very similar to the Trois Pistoles due to the nature of the yeast. Bready grains emerge from the glass. Maudite has not only sweet fruit but you also notice a bouquet of spices and cinnamon emanating from the glass as well.

Sweet! Pick by the Colts!
Sweet! Touchdown, Colts!

Back to the beer. Maudite has a really nice taste. It has a slightly lower, but still strong, alcohol content that a malty body and spicy bite do a phenomenal job of hiding. The malty body is riddled with cinnamon and spices and hints at sweet undefined fruits. The finish is clean and does not linger. For a strong all it is rather refreshing and when finished your left with the desire for another.
This brew is complex. It has tastes that extend far beyond the reach of my pallet. Every time I have a glass I find something different. Bannanas, fruit, caramel, and more. Maudite is truly a surprise everytime it is consumed. Sitting here in my apartment writing this I only wish I hade a beautiful bone-in ribeye to compliment this glorious beverage. I guess a Digiorno Thin Crust Supreme pizza will have to do! Ahhh... I gotta get a life!

DRU: 94/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Trois Pistoles

2008-11-09T22:24:00.000-06:00

Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada

ABV: 9.0% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: N/A (International Bitterness Unit)

I have a love/hate relationship with The Gingerman in Dallas, TX. So much to try, TOO much to try. This should give you a little bit of insight into my first experience drinking Trois Pistoles. I pretty much threw a dart at the menu during last call at 1:30am. Yeah I had a few good brews that night but as a night cap this beer blew my mind. The next day I waited until noon (Texas State law prohibits sale of alcoholic beverages prior to 12:00pm) and then I hopped in the car to pick up my own four pack from The Central Market. I had been wanting to sample the Unibroue product line because they have very provocative artwork and some intimidating nomers for their brew, but Canada??? Well let me tell you this beer is as good is I "kinda" remember it from the night.
Trois Pistoles is a dark strong ale. It is named after a small port/town in Canada, and the artwork I am assuming is a depiction of the Trios skyline with a dark sky and a winged firey stallion kissing the rooftops. At 9.0% Abv. it is definitely strong with a dark nearly opaque black/brown color. To achieve the high alcohol content this brew is refermented in the bottle so be sure and let this bottle settle before pouring unless you like a slightly nuttier yeast taste. I enjoy it so I have no doubt that you will too. Either way this beer is delicious.
Warming in the glass it gives of the strong odors of the malt and grains that were used to embody this beverage. If you dig your nose into the glass you will get notes of sweet fruits like raspberries and cherries. It has a light aroma of alcohol buried within the grains.
This strong ale looks intimidating in the glass. It is black and dark chocolaty looking. Light is only visible at the top of the glass where the glass taper inward. It is powerful looking and the site makes you anxious to taste it. Letting it warm for a few minutes if torture.
For a strong belgian style beer it is amazing how the malty body and fruity finish masks any alcohol taste. This beer is excellent! It is hearty and smooth in texture, sweet and bready in flavor, and refreshing to the throat with a delightful finish. The sweet fruits, possibly raisins and plumbs, are quite nice and prep your palate for the next sip.
I would recommend this beer for a before or after dinner drink. With dessert it would complement a very rich chocolate dish. I'm so glad I found this beer because I will have fun drinking it, recommending it, and watching first timers eye light up with their first sip. Bravo, Unibroue! You're restored my faith, dashed by Molson and LaBatt, in the rich tradition of Canadian Brewing!

DRU: 97/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Shiner: Bock

2008-11-09T22:22:00.000-06:00

Spoetzl Brewery, Shiner, TX

ABV: 4.4% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 13 (International Bitterness Unit)

As a temporary resident of Texas I am enjoying this fine brew. It brings back memories of College when Friday afternoons were reserved for drinking draught beer at The Campus Pub. That's right folks, the wonderful folks at Vanderbilt University served Shiner Bock as a pub brew that could be purchased with your Student ID (Thanks, Mom & Dad!!!).
This Texan Gem has a dark amber color and has the appearance of being quite flavorful. A closer look shows that in the end it is transparent and watery looking. I find this quite strange, it's as if this amber liquid has been filtered more times than Marlboro Ultra Light (no I'm not a smoker, but I'm just trying to think of an analogy where someone might complain about filters when they don't have the option to consume anything else).
This beer smells out-doorsy. I think I catch some earth and smokey tones as I get my nose into the glass and really try to whiff this mother.
This is a great beer for watching football games (See tiny number by "ABV"). It has a little bit more enjoyable flavor than your other sporting event beers (Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light) with about the same impact. It is quite easy to drink for 3 hours and still keep your wits about you. Spoetzl describes it having "dark amber color and distinctive rich flavor... Shiner Smooth". It is definitely smooth with no bitter after taste but it is not quite as rich as I would really like it to be. This beer is pretty delicious but it leaves a little to be desired. Enjoy!

DRU: 74/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Sierra Nevada: Pale Ale

2008-11-09T22:20:00.000-06:00

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, CA

ABV: 5.6% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 37 (International Bitterness Unit)

You could call this a beer a beer that never disappoints. At the same time you could call this beer a beer that never knocks your socks off. Sierra Nevada is currently one of the most popular craft breweries in the United States. What does that mean? It means that any joe shmoe who drinks the Texas Trio (Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light) might recognize the husky bottle or the decorative bar tap wielding the brewery's moniker. If you are a beer snob then I suggest you think past the obnoxious Aggies and Longhorns quaffing this brew in order to reach the plateau of their body's buzz curve ("so it will all taste the same"). This once-upon-a-time homebrew is quite good!
While on the transparent side, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale pours into a pint glass with a pretty pale amber/golden color. It yields a very nice but short lived head worthy of clinging to the the 'stache guarding the most sensitive of pallets. It's clean look and color are more inviting than intimidating.
The aroma is rather mundane. It has the the smell of hops, probably the cascade hops that are used to finish this craft brew. This may be a little biased since I am used to hoppy brews with significantly stronger odors.
Back in the day I used to love and swear by this beer. With all of this said I do have to say that this is a very refreshing pale ale. It has an extremely nice hoppy flavor that cleanses the pallet and finishes clean. It is light and delicious. This is a beer I would recommend to someone who is trying to learn more about beer or simply just likes beer and wants to have good beer without complicating things too much. Everyone who like beer is going to like a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale every now and again. In fact, I think I'll have another.

DRU: 89/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Stone: 'Oaked' Arrogant Bastard Ale

2008-11-09T22:19:00.000-06:00

The Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA

ABV: 7.2% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: "Classified" (International Bitterness Unit)

This is another spur of the moment purchase. Back at my place of work in San Diego, CA I heard about a co-worker having a keg of Arrogant Bastard Ale. I thought this sounded amusing and I've had this beer recommended by several.
Another signature brew from The Stone Brewing Company (this one is 'oaked'), it does not disappoint. The packaging is amusing and humorous as is the beverage description on the bottle. Who wouldn't enjoy drinking a brew taglined with "You're Not Worthy".
This ale is a darker brew with a red/brown hue. It pours thickly and the slightly creamy head retains some of the color. It is quite a pretty beer.
Since I can't really smell properly to describe the nose I would just like to state that it smells like beer, it smells sharp, and I can pick up a little bit of vanilla and fruitiness.
After drinking this beer you realize that the name is very appropriate. This beer just smacks you in face and the maltiness coupled with a strong hoppy flavor just kick-boxes your toungue around the inside of your mouth. I guess I am definitely "not worthy". While very tasty there is definitely a lot going on in this beer. It is definitely a good starter beer but more than one or two of these bad boys might cause your taste buds to go numb.

DRU: 79/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Stone: Ruination IPA

2008-11-09T22:14:00.000-06:00

The Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA

ABV: 7.7% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 100+ (International Bitterness Unit)

"A liquid poem to the glory of the hop!" At this point in my life I am willing to consider this the end-all and be-all of India Pale Ales!
I was at Central Market in Dallas, TX when I was looking for a good IPA for a friend (Texas Terry). As soon as I uttered the letters, I, P, and A., the clerk-ess stocking the fridge turned and said, "Have you tried the Ruination, it is new in, and it is GOOD!" this glorious woman simply stated with a wide eyed, the lights are on, stare. "SOLD!" I exclaimed and picked up a six-pack. I'm a sucker when it comes to woman and beer. It wasn't until the next day did I crack the top on this hoppy bastard.
My nose sucks. All I smell is cascade hops and gun solvent (yeah I had it all over my hands because just prior to this journal entry I cleaned my Sig P229 after a morning at the range. WHAT? I'm in Texas!). Honestly, this ale has a wonderfully hoppy aroma that just make me shudder almost as much as the taste.
The color is a beautiful cloudy gold. It is picturesque in a frosty pint glass. "A beer you can see through is just water." is a phrase that comes to mind.
The Ruination India Pale Ale is a thing of wonder. The mouth full is tingly and the effervescence is very nice. Before swallowing you can feel the bitter hop quivering your taste buds. I find this premature taste to be very unusual when drinking IPA's, I like it a lot. As the beer leaves the mouth there is a fast and overwhelming rush of bitter hop flavor that is ever-so desired. It is magnificently hoppy! The great thing about this IPA is that you get a slam bang of a flavor and then it seems as though your pallet is refreshed and ready for more. The wonderful flavor does not linger too long and spoil whatever happens to enter your pie hole next, even the next sip of Ruination. I find this exciting about this beer because you almost get to experience the first sip with every sip!
This beer is called "Ruination" because it is self proclaimed to spoil your hop-headedness for any other IPA. For now I would say that The Stone Brewing Company has succeeded. As of October 2008 this is, for me, the best of the best when it comes to the IPA!

DRU: 95/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)

Welcome, beer quaffers!

2008-11-09T21:48:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Brew For You! I intend for this to be an outlet for my ramblings about beer. A beverage that is near and dear. Since I started brewing my own beer I became fascinated with the complexities of its simplicity. I find the drink interesting and when time is taken to understand its ingredients and care is poured into the process of its creation you can taste the difference. It's delicious!

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions... please, let me know!

-Dan

Flying Dog, Seasonal: Dogtoberfest Marzen

2008-11-09T21:00:00.000-06:00

Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD

ABV: 5.3% (Alcohol By Volume)
IBU: 30 (International Bitterness Unit)

I consider Flying Dog Brewery to be an excellent craft brewery. Never have I been disappointed with one of their products. With that said I also want to say that I think Flying Dog is a fun beer to drink because of the amusing art work on the labels, the witty commentary on the packaging, and their unconventional (yet seemingly apropos) beer names.
Dogtoberfest is one of America's many beers that mimic the Marzen style beers made by the Germans during the spring and summer months that are to be drank during the months of September and October. OKTOBERFEST!
This beer has a nice dark/amber color and appears rich and flavorful pouring into the glass. Topping of a frosty pint definitely get the taste buds anxious.
The nose is clean and un-obnoxious with a slight hint of caramel that is very telling prior to the first sip. This is a very pleasant beer to drink. As a hop-head myself, I find this beer to be rather mellow with only a rating of 30 on the IBU chart. For a regular beer drinker it is nothing to do back flips over. The first mouthful is puzzling. Typically it is cold and the level of carbonation is a little underwhelming. When you swallow this beer a rush a flavor hits the inside of your cheeks and back of your tongue as the remnants react with your first breath. It is a full bodied and tasty beer with significant caramel flavors that were detected in the nose. There is a medium finish that is nice and leaves you wanting another sip.

DRU: 86/100 (Dan's Rating Unit)